Ryanair blocks lastminute.com, states ryanair.com offers the lowest fares

Europe’s largest low-fares airline Ryanair has decided to block lastminute.com and other similar websites from ripping off its passengers by selling Ryanair flights at inflated prices.

According to the airline, Lastminute and other tour operators routinely double the price for Ryanair flights while failing to advise passengers of Ryanair's terms and conditions.

Ryanair's head of communications, Peter Sherrard, said: “Ryanair sells directly to the public, so passengers should avoid these tour operator websites, which charge extortionate mark-ups, and mislead passengers.

In an official statement, it said: “Ryanair has taken steps to block these tour operator websites because they:
1.       Charge extortionate mark ups - adding up to 133 percent to the price
2.       Provide incorrect and misleading terms and conditions
3.       Mislead passengers on baggage allowances and dimensions
4.       Fail to advise passengers of schedule change information
5.       Deny passengers the opportunity to pre-book bags online
6.       Do not provide web check in and priority boarding options

“These websites can add up to 133 percent to the cost of a Ryanair flight, so passengers should remember that there is only one place for the lowest fares, and that is www.ryanair.com.”

However, according to The Herald, John Bevan, travel director at lastminute.com, insisted its customers were getting a “competitive deal” with Ryanair flights.

“We can confirm that Ryanair is fully aware and satisfied with the terms and conditions published on our site, and we’ve been working with them for the past two years. We have not been blocked by them,” he reportedly said. “Flight-only sales from low-cost carriers such as Ryanair contribute to a small percentage of overall bookings. Self-packaging a flight with a hotel is where our customers can benefit from major savings as the fee can be offset by the massive hotel discount we negotiate for our clients.”

“We would like to reassure our customers that when they book with lastminute.com they will always get a competitive deal.”

“In line with other agents, when customers buy Ryanair flights a booking fee is added to the airline’s fare.
We offer customers a first-class service, which includes notifying them of any schedule changes to booking.”